Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United's captain, recently shared his regret over Erik ten Hag's dismissal as manager, revealing that he personally called to apologize to Ten Hag on behalf of the team. Ten Hag’s exit came as United found themselves languishing in 14th place in the Premier League and struggling in the Europa League, without a single win from their opening three games. Fernandes, who was appointed as captain by Ten Hag, acknowledged the players' responsibility in the disappointing results that led to the manager’s departure.
In a post-match interview after United's 1-1 draw against Chelsea, Fernandes opened up about the guilt he felt regarding the team's performance. "Whenever you see a manager go, you have to take some of the blame on yourself," he admitted, adding that it was easier to dismiss a manager than to make major changes to the squad. Fernandes also expressed disappointment in his own form, feeling accountable for the lack of goals. Despite typically being a reliable goal-scorer, Fernandes said he had been unable to produce the needed results, though he emphasized his commitment to giving his all for the team.
The Portuguese playmaker did, however, show renewed optimism with the club's recent appointment of Ruben Amorim as United's next permanent manager. Amorim, who achieved impressive success at Sporting Lisbon, led the club to two Portuguese league titles and ended a 19-year wait for a championship win. Fernandes, who left Sporting just before Amorim took charge, has closely followed the coach's work and believes he will bring a transformative impact to Old Trafford. "Ruben Amorim brought the excitement back to Sporting. He transformed everything and brought everyone together," Fernandes said, expressing his excitement to work under the manager beginning November 11.
In the meantime, interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy is overseeing the team, and while the Dutch legend is only in charge for two more games, he is optimistic about the squad's potential to improve under Amorim. Van Nistelrooy, who remains a United fan favorite, acknowledged that the team’s main issue has been converting chances. Despite this, he remains hopeful that results will improve as the players regain their confidence, stating, "When you create a lot, all through the season so far, I’m not too worried… Results will come."
While the draw against Chelsea helped United inch up in the standings, they still have only 12 points from their first 10 games—marking their worst start to a season since 1986-87. The lack of goals has been a critical factor, with United managing just nine league goals. Yet with the prospect of Amorim’s arrival and the team’s resilience, United fans will be hopeful that their season can turn around.
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